Multifunctional exercise device

ABSTRACT

The invention composes a multifunctional device for exercising the human body. It maximises the number of exercises possible with full protection being ensured against injury. It is mainly characterized by the fact that faces ( 20 ) of front posts ( 23 ) and rear posts ( 16, 17 ) are equipped with a row of hooks ( 21 ), adapted for detachable fastening on them of two protective bar-bell catchers ( 22 ). A travelling transporter ( 9 ) has the form of a rectangular frame ( 24 ) open below. Arms ( 25 ) of the frame are equipped with a row of through-seats ( 27 ) adapted for the detachable mounting in them, in front and in the rear, training grips for lifting ( 28 ), or a horizontal beam ( 29 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a multifunctional device for exercising the human body both with and without load, designed for people who are undergoing physical rehabilitation. It is also suitable for both adults and young people who intend to achieve a high level of fitness and muscular development.

PRIOR ART

[0002] The known multifunctional devices for exercising the body, for example those known from the US patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,018 or PCT/SK96/00013 specification, designed for exercising the body both with and without load, have a bench with an adjustable seat and a back-rest, and a travelling transporter having an arrangement for changing the load. This arrangement is mounted movably on a frame and works by means of upper and lower tackle hoists. The invention also incorporates rods and hand grips that enable a user to exercise without a load—hence this device constitutes a multifunctional exercise apparatus. In such a device, in general, the possibility to change the load is achieved through the tackle hoist coupled to the travelling transporter and to a unit for changing the load having the form of suspended replaceable weights.

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The object of the present invention is a maximum increase in a number of exercises possible, both with a load, using free weights as well as weights on guides, and without a load, with the person doing exercises being completely protected from injury.

[0004] The embodiment according to the essential features of the invention, in which the multifunctional device has a bench with an adjustable angle of inclination of a seat and of a back-rest, and with a rest for feet, a travelling transporter having an arrangement for changing the load, mounted movably on guides in a frame and connected by means of a cable to an upper and a lower tackle hoists and a rod for pulling upwards and hand grips that enable a user to perform exercises without a load, is characterized by the fact that front posts of the frame constituting the face of the device are coupled through two symmetrically mounted upper beams to rear posts of the frame, all posts at the bottom being fixed to a base, and at the top being joined, through the upper beams, by means of a cross-beam, while the vertical faces of the front and rear posts are equipped, in the front and in the rear, for a considerable length, with a row of hooks to enable detachable fastening on them of two protective catchers for a bar-bell and also to act as storage for exercise attachments.

[0005] The travelling transporter has the form of a rectangular frame open below, the side arms of which are joined at the top by means of a transporter connecting link, to which the cable of the upper hoist is attached. The fore-portions of the side arms are, over a considerable length, with a row of locating holes in the form of through-seats in the front and in the rear in to which may be fitted training grips for lifting. The grips are horizontally spaced and a space between them is wider than the trunk. The trough-seats also serve for detachable mounting of a horizontal beam of the travelling transporter that also has a row of through-seats for detachably mounting the exercise training grips in them.

[0006] The bench is mounted movably, along the axis of symmetry of the frame, on carriage having a locking mechanism to enable the carriage to be clamped in any position on the carriage guide fixed to the base.

[0007] Another feature of the invention is that the travelling transporter lies symmetrically between the front and rear posts and is movably mounted by means of guide rollers on the guides and can move up and down, and this movement can be effected by the training grips for lifting, through the cable of the upper or lower hoist, or by movement transferred from the training grips mounted in the travelling transporter beam. The side arms of the travelling transporter are equipped with bumpers in their lower portion and the guides are equipped with shock absorbers positioned to be struck by these bumpers. The upper connecting link of the travelling transporter is of such a length that at its bottom position, it is situated at a height that does not permit the user's trunk to make contact with it. Building-in of the travelling transporter between the front and rear posts makes it possible for the user to exercise using free weights. To do some exercises it is possible to raise the travelling transporter and position it with the training grips for lifting in such a position, where, after turning the locking device, the protruding cylindrical pins of both of the grips rest on the hooks.

[0008] In another, also essential, embodiment of the present invention, the shock absorbers take the form of spiral springs mounted coaxially on guides, while a protective bar-bell catcher consists of coupled brackets, symmetrically shaped in the form of a letter “L” with vertical arms between which are mounted four fixing pins to be placed on the hooks. Other horizontal arms are covered by a flat plate terminating in a projection from their open side.

[0009] A further feature of the present invention is that each training grip for lifting consists of a fixing bolt of dimensions and form that make it a close fit in the through-seat, coupled advantageously at a right angle with a cylindrical grip that on one side has a handle part, and on the other is coupled pivotally, also at a right angle, with a locking device having a protruding cylindrical pin. On the fixing bolt is mounted a locking mechanism in the form of a strip joined to it at a right angle and having at its end a pin of a diameter equal to that of the fixing bolt, while the distance between the fixing bolt axis and the axis of the pin is equal to the distance between the axes of the through-seats, whereby the end of the fixing bolt has a formed protection to prevent it slipping out of the through-seat. This protection consists of a pawl in the shape of a roller of a diameter equal to that of the fixing bolt, mounted movably and perpendicularly to its axis on a cylindrical member that terminates in a disk being an extension of the fixing bolt of a diameter equal to that of the fixing bolt and permanently fixed to the cylindrical member.

[0010] The embodiment of the invention is characterized also by the fact that outside, from both sides of the travelling transporter arms, are affixed holders in the form of bolts on which exchangeable weights in the form of disks may be fitted. These provide an additional load to the travelling transporter.

[0011] Advantageous effects. The to essential features of the invention considerably increase the number of exercises that are possible using a single device, with the user being fully protected against injury in case of overexertion, faintness or accidental release of the load. This safety-level has been achieved mainly due to the fact that the device has:

[0012] 1. Apart from the standard bar-bell—two exercise grips, the reach of which is not within the limits of the user, and which, furthermore, are secured against slipping out, and that enable a wider range of motion to be made in its lower portion.

[0013] 2. The row of the hooks mounted on the posts facilitate quick putting away of the bar-bell and enable the bar-bell catchers to be installed at any height as protective members preventing the bar-bell falling onto the user's trunk. The bar-bell catchers, after being mounted on the hooks, automatically lock into position. Their construction allows their height on the posts to be raised or lowered by ½ of the distance between the hooks.

[0014] 3. The travelling transporter is so constructed to make possible exercise attachments to be mounted on it with the possibility to optimally adjust their position for a given exercise, and to the build of the user, and the travelling transporter in its lowest position does allow the user to be contacted by moving parts.

[0015] The increase in the number of exercises possible is achieved by:

[0016] 1. Using the four posts, in pair on each side, which allows exercises using the bar-bell both in the front and to the rear of the movable bench.

[0017] 2. By mounting the exercise grips in the row of sockets on the traveling transporter, exercises are possible both with and without extra loads.

[0018] 3. Using the movable bench along the axis of symmetry of the guide, along with the previous advantages, increases the space available for exercises.

[0019] Additionally, the device is characterized by the fact that it has greater stability, because there are four posts mounted on the base, two on either side, which creates a rigid and safe integral structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawing, in which

[0021]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the multifunctional device,

[0022]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device,

[0023]FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the device,

[0024]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the protective barbell catcher,

[0025]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the protective bar-bell catcher,

[0026]FIG. 6 is a front elevation view showing the fixing of the protective bar-bell catcher on the post;

[0027]FIG. 7 is side elevation view showing the fixing of the protective bar-bell catcher on the post,

[0028]FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the training grip for lifting along the axis of its fixing system, FIG. 8a is a detail X shown in FIG. 8,

[0029]FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the training grip for lifting along the hand grip,

[0030]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the training grip for lifting before being inserted,

[0031]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the training grip for lifting after being put into the travelling transporter seat,

[0032]FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the training grip for lifting unhooked (during exercise),

[0033]FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of the training grip for lifting supported by the hook (in the rest position),

[0034]FIG. 14 is a view of the bench and carriage,

[0035]FIG. 15 to FIG. 17 are examples of setting positions of the bench and foot rest, and

[0036]FIG. 18 to FIG. 23 are examples of some exercises being done on the present exercise device.

[0037] The exercise device illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 has the form of a frame 1 with two front posts 2 and 3 that are coupled through two symmetrically mounted upper beams 4. The device comprises a bench 5 with an adjustable inclination angle of seat 6 and of back-rest 7, and with a foot rest 8, as well as a travelling transporter 9 having an arrangement for changing the load, mounted movably on guides 10 in the frame 1 and connected by means of a cable 11 to upper 12 and lower 13 tackle hoists, a rod for pulling up 14, and hand grips 15 that enable a user to do exercises without a load. The device front posts 2, 3, of frame 1 constituting the front face of the device are coupled through two symmetrically mounted upper beams 4 to rear posts 16, 17 of frame 1, all posts 2, 3, 16, 17 at their bottom being fixed to a base 18 and at their top being coupled through the upper beams 4, by means of a cross-beam 19.

[0038] Faces 20 of the front posts 2, 3 and the rear posts 16, 17 are equipped, to the front and to the rear, over a considerable length, with a row of hooks 21 adapted for two protective bar-bell catchers 22 to be detachable fixed on them and for putting away exercise attachments 23. The travelling transporter 9 is rectangular in form, open from below and has frame 24, side arms 25 which are coupled at the top by means of a transporter connecting link 26, to which the upper hoist cable 11 is attached. Side arms 25 in their fore part, are equipped, over a considerable length, with a row of through-seats 27 adapted for detachable mounting in them, in front and in the rear of exercise attachments 23 in the form of training grips for lifting 28, horizontally spaced at a width “a” greater than the width of the trunk of the user, or for detachable mounting of a horizontal beam 29 of the travelling transporter 9 that also has a row of through-seats 27 to enable exercise training grips 30 to be detachably mounted in them.

[0039] A bench 5 illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 14 to 17 in four positions, is mounted movably along the axis of symmetry of posts 31 of frame 17 on a carriage 32 having a position locking mechanism 33 on a guide 101 of the carriage 32 fixed to the base 18.

[0040] The travelling transporter 9 is built in symmetrically between the front posts 2, 3 and the rear posts 16, 17, and movably, through guide rollers 34, on guides 10. It can move up and down, and this movement can be caused by moving the training grips for lifting 28 through the cable 11 of the upper hoist 12 or the lower hoist 13, or by the movement transferred from the training grips 30 mounted in the beam 4 of the travelling transporter 9. The side arms 25 of the travelling transporter 9 are equipped with bumpers 35 in their lower portion and the guides 10 are equipped with shock absorbers 36 in the lower portion and adapted to strike these bumpers. An upper connecting link 37 of the travelling transporter 9, its bottom position, is situated at a height “h” that does not allow contact with the user's trunk. The building-in of the traveling transporter 9 between the front posts 2, 3 and the rear posts 16, 17 enable the user to exercise using free weights. To do some exercises it is possible to raise the travelling transporter 9 and set it with the training grips for lifting 28 at such a point where, after turning locking device 38, protruding cylindrical pins 39 of both of the grips rest on the hooks 21. The shock absorbers 36 have the form of spiral springs 40 mounted coaxially on the guides 10.

[0041] A protective bar-bell catcher 22, illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, consists of coupled brackets 41, symmetrically shaped in the form of a letter “L” that have four mounted fixing pins 42 between vertical arms 41 ¹ to be placed on hooks 21, and other horizontal arms 41 ², covered by a flat plate 43 terminating in a projection 44. Two pins 42 ¹ of the four fixing pins 42 are mounted symmetrically one above the other, near the outer side edges of arms 41 ¹ and they serve as supporting pins, while the two remaining pins 42 ² situated in the axis of symmetry of these vertical arms, in their upper portion, function as catching pins.

[0042] Each training grip for lifting 28, illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 8, 8a to FIG. 13, consists of fixing bolt 46 having the shape that makes it close fit for mounting in the through-seat 27, coupled advantageously at right angle with a cylindrical grip 47 that from one side has holding portion 47 ¹, and from the other side is coupled pivotally, also at a right angle, with locking device 38 having a protruding cylindrical pin 39. On a fixing bolt 46 is mounted position locking mechanism 48 taking the form of a strip 49 coupled with it at right angle, and having at its end pin 50 of diameter “d¹” equal to diameter “d” of the fixing bolt 46, while a distance “b” between the axis of the fixing bolt 46 is equal to a distance “c” between the axes of the through-seats 27, whereby the end of fixing bolt 46 has a formed protection to prevent slippage out of the through-seat 27. This protection consists of a pawl 51 in the shape of a roller of a diameter “d²” equal to the diameter “d” the of fixing bolt 46, mounted movably, perpendicularly to its axis on a member 51 ¹ that is terminated in a disk 52 being an extension of the fixing bolt 46 of a diameter “d³” equal to the diameter “d” of the fixing bolt 46 and permanently fixed to a member 51 ¹.

[0043] The function of the protection by means of the pawl in the shape of a roller 51 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The roller 51, before insertion of the training grip for lifting 28, should be raised and, when it is aligned with the axis of the through-seat 27, it should be pushed into this seat whereupon the roller 51 drops and locks the inserted grip. The locking device for the training grip for lifting 28, securing the grip against turning in the through-seat 27, is illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The interlocking is effected by rotating the locking device 38 and placing it on the hook 21.

[0044] Outside, on both sides of the arms 25 of the travelling transporter 9, are fixed holders 53 in the form of bolts to mount on them exchangeable weights 54 in the form of disks, constituting an additional load on the travelling transporter 9.

[0045] Several examples of exercising using the multifunctional exercise device are illustrated in FIG. 18 to FIG. 23. FIG. 18 illustrates standard lifting in a sitting position by means of the grips using the travelling transporter. FIG. 19 illustrates standard lifting of the bar-bell in the sitting position. FIG. 20 illustrates lifting of the bar-bell in a recumbent position. FIG. 21 illustrates an exercise consisting in pulling down the rod. FIG. 22 illustrates pulling upwards in line with the trunk using the lower hoist. FIG. 23 illustrates pulling the hoist rod towards the trunk using the lower hoist.

[0046] The examples given do not cover all the exercise combinations possible, the number of which may be tens of combinations, full safety being ensured in all exercises against injuries to the users body, which is, among other things, the main object of the present invention. 

1. A multifunctional device for doing exercises with and without a load comprising a bench with an adjustable angle of inclination of a seat and of a back-rest and with a rest for feet, a travelling transporter having an arrangement for changing the load mounted movably on guides in a frame and connected by means of a cable to an upper and lower tackle hoists, and a rod for pulling upwards, and hand grips that enable a user to perform exercises without a load, wherein front posts (2, 3) of frame (1) constituting a face of said device are coupled to rear posts (16, 17) of frame (1) through two symmetrically mounted upper beams (4), wherein all posts (2, 3, 16, 17) are fixed at the bottom to base (18) and at the top are joined by means of cross-beam (19) through the upper beams (4), and wherein faces (20) of the front posts (23) and the rear posts (16, 17) are equipped in the front and in the rear, for a considerable length, with a row of hooks (21) to enable detachable fastening on them of two protective catchers of bar-bell (22) and to act as storage racks for exercise attachment (23), and wherein travelling transporter (9) has the form of rectangular frame open below and a fore-portion of the side arms (25) of the frame are equipped over a considerable length with a row of through-seats (27) adapted for detachable mounting in them, in front and in the rear, exercise attachments (23), creating training grips for lifting (28), horizontally spaced at the length (a), wider than user's trunk, or for detachable mounting of horizontal beam (29) of travelling transporter (9), said horizontal beam being also equipped with a row of through-seats (27), to detachably mount exercise training grips (30) in them, and wherein the bench (5) is mounted movably, along the axis of symmetry of the frame (1) on a carriage (32) having locking mechanism (33) to enable the carriage to be clamped in any position on a carriage guide (10) fixed to a base (18).
 2. The multifunctional device according to claim 1 wherein the travelling transporter (9) is disposed symmetrically between the front posts (2, 3) and the rear posts (16, 17) and is mounted movably through guide rollers (3, 4) on guides of travelling transporter (9), wherein side arms (25) of the travelling transporter (9) are equipped with bumpers (35) in their lower portion, and wherein guides (10) are equipped with shock absorbers (36) in their lower portion and positioned to be struck by the bumpers, wherein an upper connecting link (37) of the travelling transporter in the bottom position of the travelling transporter is situated at height (h) that does not permit the user's trunk to make contact with it.
 3. The multifunctional device according to claim 2 wherein shock absorbers (36) take the form of spiral springs mounted coaxially on guides (10).
 4. The multifunctional device according to claim 1 wherein a protective bar-bell catcher (22) consists of coupled brackets (41), symmetrically shaped in the form of a letter “L” with vertical arms (41 ¹) on which are mounted four fixing pins (42) to be placed on hooks (21), and wherein other horizontal arms (41 ²) are coverd by a flat plate (43) terminating in a projection (44) from their open side.
 5. The multifunctional device according to claim 4 wherein from among four fixing pins (42), two pins (42 ¹) mounted symmetrically one above the other, near the outer edges of vertical arms (41 ¹), are supporting pins, wherein two remaining pins (42 ²) situated in the axis of symmetry of the vertical arms in their upper portion are catching pins.
 6. The multifunctional device according to claim 1 wherein each training grip for lifting (28) consists of fixing bolt (46) of dimension and form that make the fixing bolt close fit in the through-seat (27) and are coupled advantageously at right angle with cylindrical grip (47) that on one side has handle part (47 ¹) and on the other side is coupled pivotally at the right angle with locking device (38) having protruding cylindrical pin (39) on which a fixing bolt is mounted (46) a position locking mechanism (48) in the form of strip (49) joined to it at right angle, and having at its end pin (50) of diameter (d¹) equal to diameter (d) of fixing bolt (46), wherein a distance (b) between the axis of fixing bolt (46) and the axis of pin (50) is equal to a distance (c) between the axes of through-seats (27), whereby the end of fixing bolt (46) has a formed protection to prevent it slipping out from the through-seat (27).
 7. The multifunctional device according to claim 1 or 5 wherein a protection consists of a pawl (51) in the shape of a roller of a diameter (d²) equal to a diameter (d) of a fixing bolt (46), mounted movably and perpendicularly to its axis on member (51 ¹) that terminates in a disk (52) being an extension of the fixing bolt (46) of diameter (d³) equal to diameter (d) of fixing bolt (46) and permanently fixed to a member (51 ¹).
 8. The multifunctional device according to claim 1 wherein at both sides of arms (25) of the travelling transporter (9) are affixed holders (53) in the form of bolts to mount on them exchangeable weights (54) in the form of disks being an additional load of the travelling transporter (9). 